Patch inserting tool



Nov. 27, 1951- MQREHEAD 2,576,262

PATCH INSERTING TOOL Filed March 28. 1949 IN VEN TOR.

A05 ATTOK/VEY.

Patented Nov. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE 2,576,262 PATCH INSERTING "r001.

Joseph S. Morehead, San Jose, Calif. Application March 28, 1949, Serial No. 83,800 I 1 This invention relates to improvements inroofing toolsand more particularly to atoolior inserting patches between shingles or like overlapping exterior finishes. ,.The present invention contemplates the pro visionof a tool for guarding a patch during insertion thereof between. over-lapping boards and for effecting adherence of the patch to oneof said boards during withdrawalof the tool.

uAnother object of this. invention is to provide a patch inserting tool for spreading over-lapped boards during insertionof a patchtherebetween. Another object is to provide a flexible tool for inserting patches, between over-lapping boards. 7 Still another object is to provide a patch inserting tool operable by but one hand of the person using the same.

.These and other advantages will become apparent in. the following description when the latter is read in the light of the drawings. in

which: Y I

.Fig. l is a perspective'view of a package con.- sisting of the patch inserting tool of the present invention anda supply of patches. 7

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the patch insert-.

ing tool'of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the tool shown Fig. 2'.-

Fig. 4 an enlarged detail of one endof the tool -shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are sectional views illustrating certainsteps of the use of the tool.

I 8 is a section of roofing with a patch inserted according to the steps of Figs. 5 to 7.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of a typical gutter arrangement for: the purpose of illustrating the flexibility of the tool herein.

' Fig. 10 is-a fragmentary perspective of a typical roof valley and illustrating another condition under which the flexibility of the tool is advantageous. r

The patch inserting tool of the present invention, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, comprises a body H of sheet material I2 which ispreferably light guage metal of a width comparable to the average width of a roof shingle.

The body H includes a main portion 13 bent upwardly as'at [4 adjacent one end to provide aver-tical section I5 having its upper endbent inwardly-as at I6 to provide an upper section H which lies'parallel to the body H. The sectionl'l has its extreme edge l8 curved upwardly aslight'distance from the vertical section l5 to-provide a finger engaging bead l9 which will not cut or otherwise injure the fingers of the hand'of the repairman;

' "Itshould ben'oted that the configuration of the sections I5 and I1 is such as to fit between the thumb and fingers of the user so that the tool "will be under manual control at "all times.

5' Claims.

The opposite end of the main portion 13. of the body. is provided with a ridge 20 having a flattop 2L disposed in spaced relationto the upper surface 22 of the portion [3. The space ing of. the top 2| of the ridge from the surface 22.is..comparab1e to the thicknessof a patch23 which .is.to be inserted by the tool sothat when thetoolis disposed between over-lapp ng shingles, the uppermostshingle will be raised above and out of engagement with the. patch.2.,3.

The leading end 24 of the tool is preferably,

though not necessarily, tapered so asto. act as a wedge after entrythereof between over-lapping shingles and toprevent accidental damage. to

the abutting surfaces of the shingles suchas catching on weather worn knots or-the like.

The tool as hereinbefore explained is adapted to provide a, formwfor a pluralityof .patchesz23 in the manner as shown in Fig. 1 whichawhen wrapped or bound will present a package 11 suit--. able for sale as a unit. The patches 23 may be made of any material which is suitable for the purpose but the present invention is preferably for use with patches made of pliable material such as asphalt saturated felt. Patches of such material arebest suited for shingle roofing or over-lapping siding because the asphalt with which they are impregnated has a tendency to become fluid under theheat of the sun and therefore are self -vulcanizing with respect to the surfaces against which they bear. It is with such pliable patches 23 that the 'present invention is most particularly concerned for the purpose of maintainingsuch patches in -a fiat condition during insertion. Mcreover,-*the present tool acts as a guard for preventing accidental snagging of the pliable patches on splintered sections-of the shingles and for manipulating the patch into aposition for adherence with the shingles as will now be explained. 7

The uses and operation of the tool of thepresent invention are clearly illustrated in Figs. 5 to '10 inclusive, it being understood, however, that many other difiicult circumstances not shown may be met due to the adaptability of my tool to various situations. j j

Referring now to Fig. 5it will be noted that the first step in inserting a patch 23 is to place the patch upon the main portion [3 of the toolbody H. In this position the leading edge 25 of, the patch lies just to the rear of the ridge 29 while the trailing edge 26 of the patch lies in abutting relation to the upturned section l5 of the tool.

The tool body H is then disposed angularly to the surfaceof the roof by lifting the sections 15 and I1 gripped between the fingers and thumb of the user as shown in Fig. 5. The tapered end 24 of the tool will easily enter between the uppermost shingle and the underlying one and. after row is continued until the upstanding section.

( of the tool abuts the lower edge Z of the uppermost shingle. Thereafter the tool is manipulated by the finger of the user as illustrated ,in Fig. 7 to raise the trailing end of the tool by an upward lift in the direction of arrow 11.

The ridge 20 provides a fulcrum about which to tilt the mainbody 13 as stated above so that the lifting offthe finger head I 9 by the user raises the patch 23 as is clearly illustrated in Fig. Lto dispose the patch in engagement with the under surface of-the uppermost shingle. Thefeltbase patch thereafter frictionally engages and adheres to the under surface of theuppermost shingle sufliciently to prevent displacement of. the patch duringwithdrawal of the tool inthe direction of the arrow e, Fig. 7. V V

In connection with the foregoing it should be noted that the tool is highly polished and smooth of surface so that any tendency of .adherence be: tweenthe patch and the surface 22 ofv the tool is minimized. Inother words, the patch 23 is held on the tool more by gravity than by any tendency toward .any adhesion between them. Therefore, the natural tendenc of the;patch to adhere to the roughened under surface of the uppermost shingle is such as to permit relative movement of the tool in the direction of arrow e without displacing the. patch relative to the shingles.

It should be noted furtherthat the asphalt impregnated patch, prior toinsertion, is kept cool and in the shade and therefore is not tacky. Consequently, its leading edge 25 will readily climb the incline 2, Figs. 3 and 4 of the ridgeZD, permitting withdrawal of the tool from beneath the patch V, v I

After complete removal of the tool from between the overlapping shingles, the patch 23 remains therebetween in the position as illustrated in Fig. 8, and the foregoing operation is repeated in another location where a repair patch is required. v V i v A common condition in which the present tool is useful is shownin Fig. 10 wherein a patch is required beneath a shingle s disposed adjacent the Valley 12 of a roof structure. In such instances it will be apparent that insertion of arigid, tool beneath the shingle s would be impossible due to the extended tool striking against the companion rise of the roof across the valley 1). However, since the present tool has no ribs' or rigidifying means in a lengthwise direction. it is flexible. Therefore, a slight bowing of the main portion [3 with a patch 23 thereon is permissible with the present tool and it can be used to insert a patch beneath a valley shingle in the manner as illustrated in Fig. 10.

The flexibility of the tool is also advantageous in situations such as the one illustrated in Fig; 9 wherein the upper extremis of the facade of the gutter extends above an imaginary line ex tended from the roof line. In such a situation a slight bowing of the tool is possible for the purpose of inserting a patch 23 between shingles adjacent the gutter of a roof.

While the foregoing description is directed .to

one specific form of the present invention it will 4 be apparent that the same is susceptible to variations, alterations and modifications without departing from the spirit of the invention. I therefore desireto avail myself of all variations, alterations and modifications as fairly come within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A tool for inserting a patch between overlapping exterior board finishing comprising a main body' adapted to receive and support a patch, a vertical section at one end of said main body in abutting relation to a patch disposed thereon,"said vertical section having a finger engaging bead, and a ridge formation adjacent the opposite endof said main body forprotecting the leading edge of a patch disposed thereon during insertion of the same between said overlapping board finish by said tool. a

2.A-tool for insertingapatch between overlapping boards-comprising a main body adapted to receive and support said patch, said main body being bent upwardly at one end thereof to provide a thumb engaging portion, said thumb engaging portion having an inwardly disposed finger engaging bead overlying said main body, and a ridgeformation on said main body adjacent the opposite end of the same for elevating the uppermost-one of said overlapping boards out of engagement with said patch duringinsertion of the main body therebetween and providing a fulcrum for tilting saidmain body in the direction of the uppermost one of said boards to effect adherence of the patch thereon tothe under surface of vsaid uppermost board.

3. A tool for inserting a patch between over.- lapping boards, comprising a main body adapted to receive and support said patch, said main body being bent upwardly at one end thereof to pro.- vide a thumb engaging portion, said thumb engaging portion having an inwardly disposed. fin-. ger. engaging bead overlying said mainbody, and a ridge formation on said main body adjacent the leading end thereof, said ridge formationbeing of sufficient height for elevating the uppermost one of said overlapping boards above said patch, and for effecting'a fulcrum about which, to ,.tilt said main body by an upward thrust againstsaid finger engaging beadito dispose said patch in adhering relation to said uppermost one of said boards, saidridge formationvhaving an inclined surface on that side; thereof adjacent the patch supportingportion of said main body for facilitating slippage of the patch supported on said main body over said ridge upon Withdrawal of the boards when the main body is inserted therebe tween, and a ridge formed adjacent the leading end of said main body provided with an inclined section contiguous tothe leadingedge of said patch whereby upon tilting of said body toward the upp rmost one of said boards into adherence with the uppermost board and-withdrawal of the mairrbody from beneath the same, said patch will climb said-inclined-section and remain in position.

5. A tool for inserting a patch between over:

lapping boards comprising a sheet of relatively smooth flexible material having a main body adapted to receive and support an asphalt impregnated felt patch for maintaining thesame in a relatively flat condition during insertion thereof between said over-lapping boards and for enabling insertion of said patch in a curved or bowed condition, said body having a thumb engaging portion adjacent its trailing end for engaging the rearmost edge of said patch, a finger engaging bead on said thumb engaging portion overlying said main body for facilitating elevation and withdrawal of said main body by finger manipulation of the operator, and a ridge formed adjacent the leading edge of said body for elevating the uppermost one of said overlapping boards out of contact with said patch durin v insertion thereof and for providing a fulcrum REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 730,781 Mitchell June 9, 1903 972,028 Schimanski Oct. 4, 1910 1,133,310 Nash Mar. 30, 1915 1,890,273 Wells Dec. 6, 193 

